Rotatably adjustable indicator instrument

ABSTRACT

An indicating instrument having a tubular casing with a viewing window at one end. Within the casing there is an instrument movement including a dial which is carried at the front of the movement, facing outward at the casing window. A thick mounting or base ring at the rear of the instrument movement carries the latter and has a rotary bearing in an adapter ring which latter is rigidly secured to the casing between the front and rear ends thereof. The adapter ring has slots through which there extend screws threaded into the base ring. By such arrangement the base ring and instrument movement carried thereby may be secured in any of a number of different rotative positions with respect to the adapter ring and casing. The casing comprises front and rear tubular parts which abut each other, and the adapter ring is disposed within and secured to the abutting portions of the casing parts, thereby to fasten these together. Removal of the rear casing part reveals the fastening screws which are threaded into the base ring, whereby these may be readily loosened and retightened in order to change the rotative position or attitude of the instrument movement and dial in the front casing part while these remain supported therein.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Howard R. Fowler Prospect, Conn. [21]Appl. No. 129,457 [22] Filed Apr. 17, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971[73] Assignee Lewis Engineering Company Naugatuck, Conn.

[54] ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE INDICATOR INSTRUMENT 9 Claims, 11 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.Cl 240/2.l, 73/431,116/129, 248/27, 324/156 [51] Int. Cl.....G01d 11/28 [50] Field of Search 116/124,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,112,280 9/1914 Fitch248/27 X 1,441,279 1/1923 Hammarlund... 248/27 X 1,754,954 4/1930Johnson 248/27 X 2,684,862 7/1954 Lamb 73/431 X Primary ExaminerLouis J.Capozi Attorney -l-l. Gibner Lehmann ABSTRACT: An indicating instrumenthaving a tubular casing with a viewing window at one end. Within thecasing there is an instrument movement including a dial which is carriedat the front of the movement, facing outward at the casing window. Athick mounting or base ring at the rear of the instrument movementcarries the latter and has a rotary bearing in an adapter ring whichlatter is rigidly secured to the casing between the front and rear endsthereof. The adapter ring has slots through which there extend screwsthreaded into the base ring. By such arrangement the base ring andinstrument movement carried thereby may be secured in any of a number ofdifferent rotative positions with respect to the adapter ring andcasing. The casing comprises front and rear tubular parts which abuteach other, and the adapter ring is disposed within and secured to theabutting portions of the casing parts, thereby to fasten these together.Removal of the rear casing part reveals the fastening screws which arethreaded into the base ring, whereby these may be readily loosened andretightened in order to change the rotative position or attitude of theinstrument movement and dial in the front casing part while these remainsupported therein.

PATENT EDucI 12 IHYI 3,612,851

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. Howard \1. Fowhx' ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE INDICATORINSTRUMENT CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Copendingapplication of Donald E. Protzmann, Ser. No. 881,197 filed Dec. 1, 1969and entitled Mounting for Panel- Type Instruments, and having commonownership with the present application.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to indicating instruments, and moreparticularly to instruments which have provision for rotary adjustmentof the instrument movement in order to change the rotative attitude ofthe movement and its indicating dial.

Instruments of the above type have been provided in the past withtubular casings which were essentially cylindrical, these casings beingsecured to a supporting panel by mounting screws which pass through afront bezel surrounding the frontviewing window. The mounting hole inthe supporting panel was usually circular, whereby it was a simplematter to orient or rotatably adjust the instrument and casing prior todrilling the panel for the mounting screws. With such instruments therewas usually no possibility for changing the instrument attitude after ithad been initially set, unless new mounting holes were provided in thepanel. If this were done of course, then the instrument casing could bereadily turned to a new position.

Later instrument casings were made with a nonround configuration inorder to accommodate lighting assemblages for illuminating the dial andpointer, and for other purposes. An octagonal shape of easing crosssection was adopted, and also octagonal bezel configurations for thepurpose of conserving the available space, as well as for other reasons.With such arrangement there no longer existed the possibility of easilychanging the rotative attitude or position of the instrument as thismight be desired for various environmental reasons, unless the changeinvolved for example a 90 shift in the rotative position. Often this wasnot possible or desirable. Therefore, if an attitude of the instrumentwas required which was different from that fixed by the manufacturer, itnecessitated changing internal components such as the base mounting, therear shield, the nameplate, etc.

SUMMARY The foregoing drawbacks of prior indicating instruments are theprovision of an improved panel-mounted casing-enclosed instrumentwherein a large number of different rotative positions or attitudes maybe readily had, all without changing any component parts or disturbingor altering the basic mounting arrangement between the casing, the paneland the movement proper. This is accomplished by the provision of aninstrument movement assemblage which at its rear is carried on arelatively thick and heavy mounting or base ring, said ring beingtumably adjustably secured to a cooperable adapted ring which latter inturn is rigidly secured to'the instrument casing between the front andrear ends thereof. The base ring is fastened to the adapter ring byscrews which may be conveniently loosened and retightened, thearrangement including slots and a multiplicity of threaded holesaccommodating the screws by which an infinite number of differentrotative positions of the instrument movement can be had within thecasing.

Other objects of the invention involve the provision of an improvedrotatably adjustable indicating instrument as above set forth, whereinaccess may be had to the adjustment device for the instrument movement,without requiring dismantling of the latter from the casing; theprovision of an improved adjustable instrument as above, whereinrelatively few parts are required; and an adjustable instrument as aboveset forth which is sturdy and reliable in its construction andoperation, and characterized by ease of assembly and low fabricatingcost.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in axial section,of an indicating instrument embodying the adjustable rotary arrangementof the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the instrument of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the instrument. i

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the assemblage of instrumentmovement and mounting or base ring thereof.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the base ring of the instrument. FIG. 6is a front plan view of the adapter ring of the instrument.

FIG. 7 is a diametric section, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the adapter ring of FIGS. 6 and 7.I

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the adapter ring with attachedincandescent lighting units.

FIG. 10 is a diametric section, taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a detail partly in axial section and partly in sideelevation, of one incandescent lighting unit.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the improved tumably adjustable indicatinginstrument comprises a tubular casing 20 of octagonal cross section,said casing having a front tubular part 22 and a rear tubular part 24whose adjoining edges abut each other at a joint 26. The front-casingpart 22 has an annular mounting bezel 28 surrounding a viewing window 30through which there can be observed the pointer 32 and dial 34 of aninstrument movement illustrated in side elevation in FIG. 4. The dial 34is carried on a mounting plate 36 which is supported in front of amovement proper 38 details of which per se form no part of the presentinvention and accordingly are not shown or described in detail. It willbe understood that electrical energization of the instrument movementwill result in shifting of the pointer 32 over the dial 34, to providereadings. The movement 38 and mounting plate 36 for the dial areassembled with suitable spacers or bushings 40.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided to enablethe instrument movement with its pointer, dial and dial-mounting plateto be readily rotatively adjusted without requiring any alteration ofparts such as the base mounting, shield, nameplate etc. In effectingthis the movement 38 is assembled to and mounted on an adjustment partcomprising a base ring 42 of relatively thick, rigid construction, as bymeans of spacer bushings 44, studs 45 and insulating sleeves 46, 48 Withsuch arrangement as seen in FIG. 4, the movement 38 and the indicatorassemblage are rigidly carried at the front of the base ring 42.

Within the casing 20 and between the front and rear ends thereof thereis provided an adapter ring 50 which is secured to the casing parts 22,24 by screws 52. The adapter ring is disposed within the abuttingportions of the casing parts at the joint 26 thereof; by means of thescrews 52 it secures the casing parts rigidly together in assembledrelation. The adapter ring 50 has an octagonal outer periphery 54adapted to closely fit within the inside of the casing 20, and has atits rear side a circular flange 56 which slidably receives the base ring42 of the instrument assemblage. Preferably, as shown, the flange 56 andbody portion of the adapter ring have cylindrical bores which arecontinuations of each other.

By the present invention, the flange 56 is provided with a plurality,here shown as 4, of slots 58, and the base ring 42 is provided with aplurality of tapped holes 60 to accommodate adjustment screws 62 whichpass inwardly through the slots 58 and are threaded into the base ring42. By such arrangement, the base ring is tumably mounted in the adapterring 50 and may be shifted to a large number of different rotativepositions and then secured, as by first loosening and then tighteningthe fastening screws 62. Also, in accordance with the invention, thebase ring 42 has an excess number of threaded holes 60, there beingpreferably eight such holes in conjunction with the four slots 58 of theadapter ring 50. Accordingly, with such arrangement it is possible toplace the base ring 42 and instrument movement in any of an infinitenumber of rotative positions. It will be noted that the provision of theflange 56 at the inner periphery of the adapter ring 50 providesclearance for the heads of the screws 62, within the rear of the casing20. Also, by removal of the rear casing part 24 the fastening screws 62will be revealed, and may be loosened and tightened again to rotatablyshift the instrument movement while it remains within the front-casingpart 22. Thus, there is no necessity for changing any components, or fordismantling the instrument movement beyond the temporary removal of therear-casing part 24, in order to change the rotative attitude of themovement and dial, and this can be effected all without disturbing themounting of the front-casing part 22 on the supporting panel (notshown).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 9-11, the adapter ring 50 mounts lightingassemblages 64, said assemblages comprising tubular holders 66 securedby bracket portions 68 to the front side of the adapter ring. Thelighting assemblages 64 include receptacles 70 in which lamps 72 aremounted, said receptacles being biased forwardly by compression coilsprings 74 in the tubular holders 66. By such arrangement, theassemblage of instrument movement 38 and base ring 42 can be adjustablypositioned in the casing 20 without disturbing the instrument lightingcomprising the units 64, since these remain stationary with thestationary adapter ring 50.

The rear-casing part 24 has at its backwall an electrical receptacle 76,and carries within it electrical circuitry 78 associated with theindicating instrument in the front-casing part 22. By the provision offlexible leads 80 between the circuitry 78 and the instrument movement,the rear-casing part 24 can be readily removed without disturbing ordisconnecting the wiring, for the purpose of changing the orientation ofthe instrument movement within the casing.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that l have provided anovel and improved indicating instrument wherein rotary adjustment isprovided in a simple and reliable manner, to enable change in theattitude of the instrument with its associated pointer and dial to beeffected. Relatively few parts are involved, and the indicator iscapable of being placed in an infinite number of different rotativepositions without requiring alteration of manufactured parts, and withthe least possible dismantling, involving merely a removal of therear-casing part to reveal the fastening screws for the adjustablemounting. The various parts may be economically fabricated andassembled, and the entire instrument is simplified as to its servicing,adjustment, and adaptability to different environments.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from thespirit of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A turnably adjustable indicator instrument comprising, incombination:

a. a tubular casing having a viewing window at one end,

b. an indicating instrument movement in the casing, and a dial carriedon the front of the movement, said dial being disposed face outward atthe window end of the casing,

c. an adapter ring having a bearing surface, said adapter ring beingrigidly secured in the casing between the two ends thereof,

d. a base ring rigidly secured to the rear of the instrument movement,said base ring being engaged with the bearing surface of the adapterring and being turnable with respect thereof, and

e. releasable fastener means for securing the base ring to the adapterring in any of a number of different rotative positions, thereby toenable the instrument movement and dial to be secured in the casing inany of a number of different rotative attitudes.

2. An instrument as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the casing comprises a front tubular part, and a rear tubular partabutting the front part,

b. said adapter ring being disposed within and being secured to theabutting portions of the casing parts, thereby to fasten the partstogether.

3. An instrument as in claim 2, wherein: a. the releasable fasteningmeans comprises screws disposed radially at one side of the adapter ringand arranged with their exposed ends outermost,

b. removal of one casing part from the adapter ring revealing theexposed ends of the screws, thereby to enable loosening and tighteningof the screws to be effected for adjustably positioning the instrumentmovement.

. An instrument as in claim 3, wherein:

a. the adapter ring has a cylindrical bore,

b. said base ring having a cylindrical exterior turnably fitting in thebore of the adapter ring,

c. said adapter ring having slots through which said fastening screwsextend.

5. An instrument as in claim 4, wherein:

a. the instrument movement is mounted on the front face of the basering,

b. said base ring being secured to the adapter ring at the rear sidethereof.

. An instrument as in claim 1, and further including:

. an incandescent lamp for lighting said dial, and

b. means mounting the incandescent lamp on the adapter ring to projectfrom the front side thereof in close proximity to the dial.

. An instrument as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the adapter ring has a slotted circular flange at one side thereof,

said base ring slidably fitting within said circular flange,

c. said fastening means comprising screws extending through the slots ofthe circular flange and threaded into the base ring, to effect theadjustable positioning of the base ring in the adapter ring.

8. An instrument as in claim 7, wherein:

a. the base ring has threaded holes in excess of the number of slots inthe adapter ring flange, thereby to extend the range of rotaryadjustment of the base ring in the adapter ring.

9. An instrument as in claim 8, wherein:

a. the flange of the adapter ring is spaced inwardly from the outerperiphery of the ring, thereby to provide clearance for the heads of thefastening screws.

1. A turnably adjustable indicator instrument comprising, incombination: a. a tubular casing having a viewing window at one end, b.an indicating instrument movement in the casing, and a dial carried onthe front of the movement, said dial being disposed face outward at thewindow end of the casing, c. an adapter ring having a bearing surface,said adapter ring being rigidly secured in the casing between the twoends thereof, d. a base ring rigidly secured to the rear of theinstrument movement, said base ring being engaged with the bearingsurface of the adapter ring and being turnable with respect thereof, ande. releasable fastener means for securing the base ring to the adapterring in any of a number of different rotative positions, thereby toenable the instrument movement and dial to be secured in the casing inany of a number of different rotative attitudes.
 2. An instrument as inclaim 1, wherein: a. the casing comprises a front tubular part, and arear tubular part abutting the front part, b. said adapter ring beingdisposed within and being secured to the abutting portions of the casingparts, thereby to fasten the parts together.
 3. An instrument as inclaim 2, wherein: a. the releasable fastening means comprises screwsdisposed radially at one side of the adapter ring and arranged withtheir exposed ends outermost, b. removal of one casing part from theadapter ring revealing the exposed ends of the screws, thereby to enableloosening and tightening of the screws to be effected for adjustablypositioning the instrument movement.
 4. An instrument as in claim 3,wherein: a. the adapter ring has a cylindrical bore, b. said base ringhaving a cylindrical exterior turnably fitting in the bore of theadapter ring, c. said adapter ring having slots through which saidfastening screws extend.
 5. An instrument as in claim 4, wherein: a. theinstrument movement is mounted on the front face of the base ring, b.said base ring being secured to the adapter ring at the rear sidethereof.
 6. An instrument as in claim 1, and further including: a. anincandescent lamp for lighting said dial, and b. means mounting theincandescent lamp on the adapter ring to project from the front sidethereof in close proximity to the dial.
 7. An instrument as in claim 1,wherein: a. the adapter ring has a slotted circular flange at one sidethereof, b. said base ring slidably fitting within said circular flange,c. said fastening means comprising screws extending through the slots ofthe circular flange and threaded into the base ring, to effect theadjustable positioning of the base ring in the adapter ring.
 8. Aninstrument as in claim 7, wherein: a. the base ring has threaded holesin excess of the number of slots in the adapter ring flange, thereby toextend the range of rotary adjustment of the base ring in the adapterring.
 9. An instrument as in claim 8, wherein: a. the flange of theadapter ring is spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the ring,thereby to provide clearance for the heads of the fastening screws.